The cave was lighted only by flickering candles, and Pastorella’s fair face looked like a beautiful star in the darkness. Although she was so pale, she was so beautiful that the merchants said that they must certainly have her.
‘I have told you I will not sell her,’ said the captain sulkily.
They offered him much gold, but still he would only say, ‘I will not sell her.’
‘If you will not sell this slave,’ said the merchants, ‘we will not buy any of the others.’
Then the other robbers grew very angry with their captain, and tried to compel him to give in.
‘I shall kill the first who dares lay a hand on her!’ furiously said the captain, drawing his sword.
Then began a fearful fight. The candles were knocked down, and the robbers fought in the dark, no man knowing with whom he fought.
But before the candles went out, the robbers in their fury killed all their prisoners, lest they might take the chance of escaping, or fight against them. Old Melibœus and his wife were slain, and all the other shepherds and shepherdesses, excepting Corydon and Pastorella.
Corydon, who was always good at running away, escaped in the darkness.
The robber captain put Pastorella behind him, and fought for her. At last he was stabbed through the heart and fell dead. The sword that killed him pierced Pastorella’s arm, and she, too, fell down in a faint.